In 2016-17, five of the ten SA2s with the largest population increases (in terms of absolute numbers) were located outside of Greater Brisbane, with three located on the Gold Coast.

The SA2 with the largest population increase in Queensland was Pimpama (3,000 people) on the Gold Coast, followed by Jimboomba on the southern outskirts of Greater Brisbane, and North Lakes - Mango Hill in the Moreton Bay region, north of Brisbane (both 2,100). Large growth also occurred in Coomera on the Gold Coast and Springfield Lakes, a suburb of Ipswich (both 1,400).

Pimpama was also the fastest-growing SA2 in Queensland (31%). This was followed by Ripley (15%), a suburb of Ipswich, and Newstead - Bowen Hills (10%), in inner Brisbane.